With her life on the rocks, it is going to take a whale sized miracle to keep her afloat.Event planner Fiona Reeves did not have her husband’s sudden departure on her schedule. However, she’s certain that it’s only a hiccup and he’ll be back in no time, begging for forgiveness. Fortunately there’s a distraction of mammoth proportions swimming in the River Thames. Absorbed by the story of Martha … Thames.
Absorbed by the story of Martha the sperm whale, Fiona attempts to carry on life as usual as she awaits her husband’s return. However, nothing can prepare her for the dramatic turn of events that throw her life into ever greater turmoil. The road ahead has many paths and for Fiona it’s time to sink or swim.
Fiona and the Whale is a poignant and often hilarious contemporary fiction novel. If you enjoy topical tales, second chances and a little bit of romance, you’ll love this new book from the Kindle Storyteller Award Winner, Hannah Lynn.
Praise for Fiona and the Whale
“Funny, realistic, crazy and truly an enjoyable read.”
”Quirky, original, made me laugh, made me think – and a great read that I thoroughly enjoyed.”
“Fiona has the potential to be the next Bridget Jones I loved her quirky and chaotic take on life and all its events. A perfect read for the weekend.”
“What I’ve liked the most about Lynn’s other books are the characters and how she makes them instantly likeable and relatable. Fiona and the Whale didn’t disappoint.”
“A brilliant entertaining read.”
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While billed as chick-lit or semi romance, the author steps in up front and tells you that you may not find a happily-ever-after at the end of this book. In fact, the author steps in periodically through the book and asks the reader how you are doing? Are you keeping up? Thanks us for staying the course, and asking what our expectations are for the remainder.
This could be called a coming-of-age novel, just not the first love, blossoming into adulthood type. It is about a woman who thought she was doing life right, had what she considered a successful marriage. After all, it did last into its second decade! Her son has done well in school and has headed off to university, already having some life skills to take care of himself. Fiona’s own business has grown and niched through many hours of her dedication, and with the help of a few well made introductions to clients of her husbands’s.
And then Martha the whale swims up the Thames. Holly, Fiona’s best friend, takes her to yoga class and a new-age type sustainable restaurant, and for whatever reason, Fiona’s eyes are opened. She wonders how successful her life has really been up to this point. What has been her impact on the world?
Some readers have mentioned they did not care for Fiona, felt her cold and self absorbed. I found her to be focused, and capable of extreme emotional reactions. I felt the urgency and increased tension in various sections of this book. Although I appreciated Hannah checking in with us, I was always anxious to continue to watch things unfold for Fiona.
I will say the author succeeded where others have failed and I am now very much more aware of my use of a material in daily life. How that will change going forward? Time will tell.
This is the first book that I have read from this author, but it certainly won’t be the last. I thought that it was very cleverly written, incorporating a light romance story, some very funny humour, and a very serious message about the issue of waste and plastic usage.
I have to admit that the author’s note at the start did put me off a little, it rambled on a bit too much for my taste, but was quite amusing, and it also took me a couple of chapters to feel any empathy with Fiona, but once I got past that I thought that Fiona was a very cleverly written character, and I really felt for her as she went through the ups and downs of the plot.
The other characters are also well written, complex and three dimensional with realistic back stories.
The book made me think about what I could do to reduce my waste footprint, and reduce the amount of single use plastic that I buy or use, but this message is lightened by the, at times, hilarious situations that Fiona finds herself in.
I received an advance copy of this book, but have voluntarily written this honest review.